The Biggest Animation Festival in the US Announces Full Slate; Opening Night Film, Cannes Award-Winner Dandelion’s Odyssey, Talk w/ Oscar-Winning Sound Designer Nicolas Becker

L’Alliance New York is thrilled to announce the full slate for the 2026 Animation First Festival, now in its ninth year. Created in 2018, Animation First is the largest animation festival in the U.S. (and the only francophone animation festival). Running February 3-8, 2026, this year’s festival will focus on Belgian films, featuring both classic and new works from all manner of Belgian filmmakers. Animation First is an opportunity for all curious moviegoers to discover bold and innovative films and enjoy opportunities to meet filmmakers, artists and other festival-goers throughout the festival’s many screenings, talks and parties.

The 2026 slate boasts an impressive roster of feature films, all of which are North American, US or NY premieres, and several unique shorts programs, along with a series of talks and special events. The Opening Night film is the U.S. Premiere of Dandelion’s Odyssey by Momoko Seto, who will appear in person for a Q&A. Dandelion’s Odyssey premiered at the Critic's Week at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival where it was awarded by Prix FIPRESCI. The film’s Sound Designer, Nicolas Becker, will also appear in person at the festival for a talk (along with Seto). Becker is renowned for his work, including the Sound Design for the recent Arco, as well as The Sound of Metal, for which he won the Oscar.

“With this year’s program we are delighted to once again spotlight animation at its best, as an art form that engages, delights and surprises,” says Delphine Selles-Alvarez, who co-curated along with Chloe Dheu. “From paper cut-outs and clay puppets to hand-drawn and CG animation, this year’s filmmakers mine the potential of animation to tell stories of deep contemporary social and political resonance, as well as engage in lighter subjects of friendship, story-telling and epic adventures. Children and adults alike are in for unique discoveries at Animation First 2026.”

Other highlights include the Centerpiece Presentation, the NY Premiere of Tales from the Magic Garden (Les Contes du pommier) by David Súkup, Jean-Claude Rozec, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, a co-production of Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and France. This whimsical film is crafted with stunning puppetry and stop motion, a homespun rarity in a world flooded with CGI. The festival’s grand finale is the Closing Night film, Death Does Not Exist (La mort n'existe pas) by Félix Dufour-Laperrière, making its US Premiere.

The festival also features many unique short film programs, notably the Best of Annecy 2025 and The Magician of Ostend: The Films of Raoul Servais, one of Belgium’s most celebrated animation artists. In addition, there are talks with high profile figures in the animation industry, notably Nicolas Becker (Gravity, Sound of Metal, Dandelion’s Odyssey, Arco), who will discuss his journey from foley artist to sound designer. There will also be a conversation with the Oscar-nominated Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski for Madame Tulti-Pulti, the co-founders of Montréal stop-motion studio Clyde Henry Productions.

Rounding out the shorts are the three wildly different New Francophone Shorts programs, featuring the best of new animated shorts from emerging and established filmmakers (all films are either US or NY Premieres). Shorts were selected from lauded festivals including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cannes Films Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Anima (The Brussels Animation Film Festival). These films will be in competition, with winners decided by a jury of artists and filmmakers: Emily Hubley, Leah Shore, and Kat Mukai.

The full festival slate is detailed below! Please visit the 2026 Animation First site for full information.

2026 Animation First Festival Slate

Feature Films:

Dandelion’s Odyssey (Planètes) - US Premiere, Opening Night Film
Dir. Momoko Seto, 2025, France, Belgium, 76min, DCP
No dialogue
Tuesday, February 3 at 7pm

In this stunning film, four dandelion seeds journey through the cosmos, on an unforgettable adventure to find a new home.  Screening followed by a Q&A with director Momoko Seto and a reception.

Tales from the Magic Garden (Les Contes du pommier) - NY Premiere, Centerpiece Film
Dir. David Súkup, Jean-Claude Rozec, Patrik Pašš, Leon Vidmar, 2025, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, France, 75min, DCP
In French with English subtitles
Friday, February 6 at 7pm

Three kids discover the power of imagination when they retell the stories once shared by their late grandmother, in this whimsical film crafted with stunning puppetry and stop motion. Followed by a reception.

Allah Is Not Obliged (Allah n'est pas obligé) - US Premiere
Dir. Zaven Najjar, 2025, France, Luxembourg, Belgique, Canada, Arabie Saoudite (Saudi Arabia), 77min, DCP
In French with English subtitles
Saturday, February 7 at 7pm

Birahima, a 10-year-old Guinean orphan, shares his experience as a child soldier in this bittersweet elegy to a childhood shattered by war. Adapted from Ahmadou Kourouma’s celebrated novel and presented as a First Look at Animation First 2024. Followed by a toast.

Heart of Darkness - North American Premiere
Dir. Rogerio Nunes, 2025, France, Brazil, 77min, DCP
In Portuguese with English subtitles
Saturday, February 7 at 9:30pm

In a near-future Rio de Janeiro, soldier Marlon navigates the polluted waters and favelas of Guanabara Bay in search of Kurtz, former commander turned cult leader. Marlon’s journey plunges him into a dystopian world where faith, power, and chaos collide. Preceded by a toast.

The Songbirds' Secret (Le Secret des mésanges) - NY Premiere
Dir. Antoine Lanciaux, 2025, France, 77min, DCP
In French with English subtitles
Sunday, February 8 at 2pm

9-year-old Lucie, guided by a pair of birds, uncovers her family history in this little miracle of a film, created with paper cutouts and over 2,000 puppets.

Death Does Not Exist (La mort n'existe pas) - US Premiere, Closing Night Film
Dir. Félix Dufour-Laperrière, 2025, Canada, France, 72min, DCP
In French with English subtitles
Sunday, February 8 at 8:15pm

Hélène flees into the forest after a failed armed attack on wealthy landowners, where she is haunted by her friend and accomplice, forcing her to reckon with her convictions and choices. Preceded by a Closing Night Party.

Short Films:
All shorts screenings at the Florence Gould Theater will be preceded by a 25-second bumper film by Ecole MoPA students.

New Francophone Shorts
The eclectic New Francophone Shorts programs bring together the best of new animated shorts from emerging and established filmmakers. Shorts were selected from lauded festivals including the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cannes Films Festival, Berlin International Film Festival and Anima —The Brussels Animation Film Festival. Co-curated by filmmaker Michael Enright and festival curators Chloé Dheu and Delphine Selles-Alvarez.

New Francophone Shorts 1
Wednesday, February 4, 6:45pm
Total running time: 73min
Florence Gould Theater

New Francophone Shorts 2 - Dark After Dark
Wednesday, February 4, 8:30pm
Total running time: 78min
Florence Gould Theater

Dark social commentary, horror and cruelty are par for the course in this program of New Francophone Shorts.

New Francophone Shorts 3
Sunday, February 8, 12pm
Total running time: 66min
Florence Gould Theater

Best of Annecy 2025
Friday, February 6 at 9:30pm
Total running time: 76min
Florence Gould Theater

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival is the world’s largest animated film festival, gathering movie lovers from around the globe to experience the best of the artform, forecast trends, and meet filmmakers and creators. This curated selection of shorts highlights the greatest from the 2025 Festival, including a tailor-made opening sequence by students from GOBELINS Paris. Preceded by the Centerpiece reception at 8:15pm.

First Snow (Premières Neiges)
Saturday, February 7 at 10:30am - FREE
Dir. Marion Auvin, Pascale Hecquet, Cecilia Marreiros Marum, Juliette Baily, 2025, 37min, France, DCP
In French with no English subtitles

Presented as part of Animation First’s spotlight on Belgian animation, these seven family-friendly fiction and documentary shorts are all about snow and winter.

Strawberries, Snails and Slugs: the Films of Sylwia Szkiłądź
Saturday, February 7 at 1:45pm
Total running time: 75min

Discover the work of Belgium-based filmmaker Sylwia Szkiłądź and how she mines the potential of animation to activate the imagination of adults and children. This program includes Autokar, Strawberry Soup (La Soupe aux fraises), The Tiny Fox (Le Renard minuscule) and The Slug & The Snails (rdsLimaçon & carioles). Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Sylwia Szkiłądź.

The Magician of Ostend: The Films of Raoul Servais
Saturday, February 7 at 5:15pm
Total running time: 83min
Florence Gould Theater

Raoul Servais (1928-2023), one of Belgium’s most celebrated animation artists, experimented with graphic style and animation techniques throughout his career. He left behind a body of work of great artistry and contributed to film making with the invention of Servaisgraphy, a pre-CGI process to blend live-action and animated shots. He used this technique in his award-winning Harpya (1979). With a mix of biting dark humor and lyricism, Servais was also deeply committed to exposing tyranny and war in his films such as Chromophobia (1966), Sirene (1968), and Operation X-70 (1971). This program surveys most of Servais’ short films, all restored by the Belgium Cinematek. Followed by a conversation with Vito Adriaensens, filmmaker and scholar.

Magnificent Puppets: The Films of De Swaef and James Roels
Sunday, February 8 at 1:45pm - FREE
Total running time: 61 min
Skyroom

This program spotlights the work of leading Belgian directing duo Emma and Marc with two shorts featuring their delicately-crafted felt puppets: Oh Willy... and This Magnificent Cake!

Student Short Competition
Back for its sixth year, the Animation First Student Short Film Competition highlights the work of emerging talent from some of the most renowned animation schools in France and the United States. Prizes are awarded for Best French Student Short and Best American Student Short.

Talks and Other Events:

Animation Speak/Easy
Thursday February 5 at 7pm - FREE
Tinker Auditorium

Join us for a one-of-a-kind evening of animated inspiration, discussion and drinks. Created by NYC-based animation filmmakers, Animation Speak/Easy is an interactive event where three guest artists are invited to share an animated short that inspires them, followed by a lively audience discussion.

First Look: Sidi Kaba and the Gateway Home
Saturday, February 7 at 2pm - FREE
Running time: 75min
Le Skyroom

Producer Sébastien Onomo gives a behind-the-scenes look into the process of making Special Touch Studios’ first feature from Rony Hotin, an epic adventure told through African myths and storytelling.

The Sound of Animation: Nicolas Becker and Momoko Seto in Discussion
Saturday, February 7 at 4pm - FREE
Running time: 75min
Le Skyroom

Along with Dandelion’s Odyssey’s Momoko Seto, the Oscar-winning sound designer Nicolas Becker (Gravity, Sound of Metal, Dandelion’s Odyssey, Arco) discusses his journey from foley artist to sound designer, his inspirations and the art of crafting the sound into a living character.

Making of The Songbirds’ Secret
Sunday February 8 at 3:45pm - FREE
Running time 75min
Le Skyroom

Samuel Ribeyron, set designer of The Songbirds’ Secret, will delve into the process of making the film, his craft and techniques and the choices that the artistic team made to create this ambitious film with paper cut-outs and stop-motion. Preceded by the screening of the film at 2pm.

Animating the Surreal: A Conversation with Lavis and Szczerbowski
Sunday, February 8 at 5:15pm
90min, including 17min screening of The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Florence Gould Theater

Oscar nominated directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski—co-founders of Montréal stop-motion studio Clyde Henry Productions—examine the evolution of cinematic puppetry as it relates to their newest film, The Girl Who Cried Pearls.

VR Programs:
Thursday February 5: 5pm-7pm
Friday February 6: 5pm-7pm
Saturday February 7: 11am-7pm
Sunday February 8: 11am-6:30pm

Gymnesia
Dir. Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski, 2019, 6min
Gymnasia is an exploration of memory and the impossibility of returning to one’s past except through dreams. In a decayed and abandoned school gymnasium—haunted by the ghosts of its history— are stirring memories of a lost childhood. Through virtual reality stop motion animation, puppets, and miniatures, Gymnasia envelops you in an eerily familiar waking dream. It will lead you back into a secret space in your memory, back to your childhood gymnasium.

Marco & Polo Go Round
Dir. Benjamin Steiger Levine, 2021,12min
Marco & Polo Go Round is a love story with a surreal twist. As Marco and Polo face difficulties in their relationship, gravity reverses and their whole world literally collapses around them.

The Great Escape
Dir. Joren Vandenbroucke, 2025, 25min
Three moody geraniums take control over their fate and plan their escape from the windowsill they spent their entire boring life on.

The festival’s Supporting Sponsors are the Québec Government Office in New York, the School of Visual Arts, Unifrance, and Villa Albertine.